Saturday. Rome

Saturday - Rome

We left Sorrento and said good bye to Sister Monica by catching a city bus to the port. We got tickets to catch a boat to Naples. We had a little wait but it was very pleasant by the water.


It was only a 35 minute ride to Naples.





The weather was great and we got to see the coast line. We caught a city bus in Naples to the train station getting the express train for Rome. Arriving in Rome, We grabbed a cab to the convent. After settling in, we walked to Vatican Square and toured the Basilica.





The line at the Basilica was not very long, so we went in. You can take photos but the dress code is strict. It is hard to describe the feeling to be in this church. We decided to go up into the dome by elevator - 7 euros. At the rim of the dome, you can walk around it.








We could see mass being said while we were there. Don't think it counts as attending. Amazing! (see photo) From here there is a stairway to the top of the dome. Of course, in Italian, there is a sign and who knows what it says. We thought it was an exit but , no it was to the top. We should know the word for exit by this time. We are followers, not leaders. Later we realized it is 300 steps in a very narrow stairwell with a solid line of people going up with no way out except at the top. This was hard for me (claustrophobic) and others. No railings for most of the way and it slanted toward the dome at the top. Also a rope for a railing at the last part.

Eileen later said there should be a notice or a medical monitor at the beginning so as to limit possible problems. We did see a box labeled SOS on the way up but cannot imagine how medics could assist If needed.
At the top you have a great view and of course Judy was the only one taking photos and moving around much. We can say we did it.

Later, we had a great meal. Wine, of course, was needed after our excitement and we also had oxtail, tripe, lasagna, salad, brusshetta. It seems that Rome is a little more


expensive for everything. We did so much today. We will sleep well. Joan

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